Protecting Tongass National Forest

By Jami Westerhold, American Forests’ director of strategic initiatives

For more than a century, American Forests has worked for the protection and restoration of some our nation’s — even the world’s — most beautiful places. Forests entrance people from all walks of life, and though it would be hard to select the “best” or “most amazing,” some forests simply take your breath away. Tongass National Forest in Alaska is one of these places. Referred to as the crown jewel of the national forest system, Tongass has numerous qualities to tout. It is the largest national forest, covering more than 17 million acres. It also possesses the biggest reserve of coastal temperate rainforest in the world, which is the rarest and most valuable type of forest. There are 19 designated wilderness areas within the forest, more than any other national forest. And this is only the beginning.

Regrettably, with magnificence comes exploitation; Tongass has a history of controversy.

Credit: FWS/Stefanski

In 1971, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) authorized native local and regional corporations to select and receive title to a combined 44 million acres of public land in Alaska. ANCSA was intended to resolve the long-standing issues surrounding aboriginal land claims in Alaska, an important and necessary resolution. However, the recently introduced Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization and Jobs Protection Acts (S. 730 and H.R. 1408) would re-open the ANCSA agreement, allowing Sealaska Corporation, a native Alaskan company, to select and receive titles to publicly owned lands — administered by the U.S. Forest Service — not included in the original agreement.

This legislation would allocate 65,000 acres of protected public land within Tongass to Sealaska for logging and development. These acres are considered valuable public lands and contain a large quantity of very-large-tree, old-growth forests. A report by Audubon Alaska estimates that the small and scattered parcels selected by Sealaska would increase the company’s ownership of very-large-tree, old-growth areas by twelvefold.

While these large-tree stands only account for 1.6 percent of the productive old growth in Tongass, the Alaskan timber industry has a history of focusing its logging on the largest and most valuable old-growth trees of Tongass, and old-growth areas represent up to 27 percent of the lands Sealaska has selected. Though the Tongass Timber Reform Act of 1989 eliminated the practice of high-grading — the disproportionate logging, relative to occurrence, of the largest and most valuable trees — the land selected in this legislation indicates a threat of a return to the practice. It is estimated that more than half of the large-tree, old-growth areas have been logged in Tongass, and with this legislation, Sealaska could log almost 17 percent of the remaining stands.

American Forests is recognized for its balanced approach to forest issues. We appreciate the need for protecting forests, but also for harvesting trees for wood products. We want increased access for recreational purposes, but also untouched wilderness areas. Achieving and maintaining this balance is often like walking a tight rope, moving too far to one side alters the equilibrium of everything else.

Weighing these competing interests is what determines how we can manage our public lands’ natural resources. Being the home of the majority of America’s remaining old-growth forests, which hold more organic matter per acre than any other forest, including tropical rainforests, the scale clearly tips towards Tongass’ preservation. As Tongass has always been a place where people and wilderness co-exist, the Southeast Alaska communities are dependent on the health and abundance of this forest to sustain their livelihoods and cultures. America’s most precious and endangered forests are far more valuable standing than cut down.

As President Theodore Roosevelt once said, “To exist as a Nation, to prosper as a State and to live as a people, we must have trees.” Though Tongass may not be in your backyard, it is unquestionably a national treasure that must be protected. Please join American Forests by sending a letter to Congress requesting a more balanced approach to the management of one of the most remarkable places on Earth. Visit our Action Center to find a letter written by American Forests about the Tongass situation that you can attach your name to and send to Congress with our easy-to-use form.

Comments

5 Responses to “Protecting Tongass National Forest”

I’m working on a children’s picture book of old growth forests. I’m particularly interested in the Tongass and have taken a little day hike to see a bit of it. Can you please tell me if any portion of the forest has big leaf maples?

I cannot believe that this last remaining wilderness would even come into question for being logged. I am constantly abhorred and disgusted by the acts of a few greedy individuals who exploit the natural environment for the sake of profit. Shame on these disgusting representations of humanity, they deserve to be publicly ostracized and chased out of the community. When is enough enough? For the health of the planet and the sake of the future, please, I plead and beg, that these lands are not further damaged. I hope the people attempting to commit these atrocious acts of cutting down our last remaining rainforests, I hope their lives end in misery and suffering and malignant , excruciating pain. I hope their children’s children die painful slow deaths of suffocating from lack of oxygen and poison from the contaminants spread by the pollution from industries like oil, automobile, logging, and in general the exploitation of the natural environment. I hope their great grandchildren are born with abnormalities and genetic deformities and die at early ages as to not continue to reproduce and spread their ignorance and neglect and respect for all life. I have never been so disappointed in humanity in my life. Death to the world.

This is Harrison. What would be better is alow second growth logging those trees I see all the time and there average only 4 feet in diameter, perfect logging size. Jobs and lumber is important to the economy and no family, especially children deserve to suffer through poverty. If they focus on second growth, our trees that are 8+ feet in trunk thickness and hundreds of years old are left standing. You want a house or a tent? If you want the house then second growth logging is the answer. I’m a nature lover like you, who likes being in nature so I understand you completely. I used to think like you until the recent economic crash and doing wood working. There are a lot Campinas you can join like the wilderness society and green peace if you feel that strongly, look them up online. I’m interested in new friends who like to be in nature, not to be creepy, just saying. Hope this helps you.

I would say lets try a win win. leave the biggest and oldest trees standing and go after the second growth trees. Help protect the forest and keep jobs going. I understand different view points, but kathleen bekelham has a point that we are selfishly destroying the wilderness and i’m not saying we should let people suffer because of this though.